The Archconfraternity of Mercy of Arezzo is a voluntary association that is part of the Confraternities of Mercy Movement, founded in Florence in 1244 by Pietro da Verona, later Saint Peter Martyr. Today, the Confraternities of Mercy are present in Italy and abroad, with more than 700 confraternities.
History
The activities of the Archconfraternity of Mercy of Arezzo began on 25 August 1315, when Guido Tarlati, Bishop of Arezzo, authorised the establishment of the “Company of the Most Holy Trinity”, granting it supremacy over all the other existing companies. In 1348, the “Societas SS. Trinitatis ” had acquired houses and land for its permanent headquarters, which is still
its headquarters today.
The Company of the Most Holy Trinity continued to operate as such until 1785, when the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Pietro Leopoldo, decreed the suppression of all confraternities and companies.
However, since under the Grand Ducal rescript the suppressed companies had to be replaced in every parish
by a “Company of Charity”, whose purpose was “in addition to religious practices and the teaching of Christian Doctrine, to assist the sick and transport them to hospital, to carry the dead to their burial place, and to provide and distribute charitable aid to the destitute”, the dissolved Company of the
Trinity was re-established at the Cathedral as the “Company of Charity of the Cathedral”. Noting that no other Companies of Charity had been established in Arezzo, in 1792 authorisation was requested from the “Royal Throne”
for the “Company of Charity of the Cathedral”, under the new name “Company of Mercy and Death”, to move to the nearby Church of Saint Sebastian and to admit brothers from outside the Cathedral Parish. The request, which effectively marked the rebirth of the old Company, albeit under a different name, was approved by
“rescripts of the Secretariat of Royal Law dated 30 June and 27 July 1792”. The Confraternity’s patroness is Our Lady Help of Christians and, in matters of moral, ethical and religious values, it is under the Diocesan Authority, represented by a Corrector, an Ecclesiastical Assistant appointed by the competent Diocesan Ordinary.
Activities
- ORDINARY MEDICAL TRANSPORT
- EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORT
- SOCIAL TRANSPORT
- FUNERAL TRANSPORT
- ASSISTANCE FOR OLDER PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
- SPORTS EVENT SERVICES
- ANTI-USURY LISTENING CENTRE
- COLLECTION AND SUBSEQUENT DELIVERY OF CLOTHING TO PEOPLE IN NEED
- CIVIL PROTECTION
- TELECARE
- FRATRES BLOOD DONORS GROUP
- AIDO ORGAN DONORS GROUP
Contacts
Via Garibaldi, 143 – 52100 Arezzo (AR)
Tel. +39 0575 24242